Every year, I cringe when the Christmas decorations show up in the stores the day after Thanksgiving.
The Christmas shopping season, or at least the planning of it, is upon us. Christmas can be extravagant and expensive. And let’s face it — a lot of gifts are unnecessary. A celebration that is supposed to be about non-material values has become rooted in materialism.
Christmas shopping excesses harm the environment. The majority of holiday “stuff” we purchase creates the majority of the waste at this time of year. This is especially problematic when you consider how many gifts people do not like or have no intention of using. How many simply end up in the landfill after a short period of time? The materials used to wrap gifts also have an immense impact. Much of the wrapping paper, and most of the ribbon and tape, cannot be recycled and ends up in our almost-at-capacity landfill.
Let’s rethink our Christmas gift-giving practices. Does everyone need five gifts? Consider fewer but more meaningful gifts. Have a discussion with your family — perhaps most will agree to cut down or reduce the number of gifts. Pull names from a hat and give a gift, with a spending limit, to only one extended family member. Give the gift of time or an experience. Reconsider “Secret Santa” gifts at work or feeling obligated to give to everyone who touches your life. Support your local businesses rather than the mega-brands. Consider making your own gifts. Traditions are not really about the stuff but the action or experience.
A beautifully wrapped gift shows you care, but let us reduce and rethink gift wrapping. Ditch the glitter, and its harmful chemicals. Use reusable household items as wrapping — for example, wrap the gift in a new tea towel for the cook in your family. Use reusable gift bags. Challenge yourself to learn how to wrap without using tape. Save the “still usable” wrap for next year.
There are a lot of other ways we can reduce our consumption and waste at Christmas. Two simple ways: Reduce the number of hours the Christmas lights are on or plan meal portions to avoid waste.
Gift giving is a wonderful way for us to connect with those in our lives. Giving builds families, friendships and communities. But let’s give mindfully. Let there be gifts this year — but fewer, and not to everyone.
Louise Montague is a member of Greys for Green in New Tecumseth. She is on a journey to reduce her carbon footprint and is interested in helping others learn how to make sustainable living the norm. Contact Greys for Green at [email protected] or follow on social media.
